Annual Report 2013

Annual Report 2013

Date Published:

October 2013

In this Annual Report, we cover how 2012/13 was a year in which recorded crime fell a further 7.4 percent, year-on-year, with 29,337 fewer recorded offences than the year before. The total of 365,185 recorded offences was the lowest in more than 30 years. The road toll was 317, remaining close to 2011/12 levels which were the lowest since official records began.

In 2012/13 New Zealand Police took stock of the ways we’ve been measuring our performance, and reduced things down to a handful of goals:

Reducing crime. As crime reduces, the financial, economic and social costs of crime are also reduced. Further and related to (3), people are much more secure and much less anxious if they are not victimised in the first place.

Reducing death and injury on the roads. This is a source of great community distress (and financial and economic cost). Reducing road trauma and harm has benefits to all.

Protecting communities. The communities, and people, that are preyed upon deserve our protection. Repeat victimisation, and the fear and distress it causes needs to be reduced.

Maintaining trust in the Police. This ensures Police will operate by public consent, and is able to fulfil its functions. It is vital Police’s independent powers are balanced by accountability to the public.

By targeting our efforts, New Zealand Police will be better able to deliver the goals we’ve set in our Statement of Intent, and we’ll also support wider government goals, across multiple sectors. The Annual Report provides a report card against what we set out to achieve.